Phillip Pyle
Popular Sermons: Blessed Are the Merciful
「1789」 Philip Pyle, Pyle Sermon XXI Matthew v. 7. Blessed are the Merciful. For They Shall Obtain Mercy,” in One Hundred and Twenty Popular Sermons「Google Books」(Norwich, 1789) 349-366.
I shall mention one more instance of this duty; which is seldom inforced by the preachers of the Gospel, and still seldomer observed by their hearers. The instance I mean, is that of mercy to the Inferior creatures—Blessed is HE, who is merciful, not only to man, but to the lower animals: Who abhors all wanton cruelty: Who scorns to give any creature needless pain, to abuse it in any way, or to renter it Being unhappy.—Theis, however shamefully disregarded, is, without question, a branch of the general duty before us.
Blessed therefore is that completely generous soul, who looks upon cruelty as the same execrable sin, whether it be practiced toward man, or toward beast: Who considers compassion, as a debt everlastingly due to every creature that has life, and is subject to our power. Fro all things derive their existence, from the same Divine Origin. The meanest reptile upon the ground, which We so ignorantly despise, is the work of the Almighty’s Hand, and as intended by Him to enjoy the happiness proper to its nature. That God could create any thing with a design it should be miserable, or that he can authorise Us to make it so; is a most impious thought, utterly repugnant to every idea of his moral perfections!
What opinion then are we to entertain of those Human Brutes, who treat the Natural ones, as if they had no feelings; as if they were absolutely incapable, either of pleasure, or pain! By which these savages demonstrate, that they would treat Men after the very same manner, were Men as much in their power. For you may lay down this, as an axiom in morals; that ‘he, who I cruel to one creature, will be cruel to another; and that he, who is Really Merciful to one, will be merciful to all.
But God, you may say, as the Scripture itself declares, made the lower animas, for the use of man. True! He made them for our Use; not for our Abuse: Heaven forbid! If we Are so, we shall be punished with the severity we justly deserve, for such a wicked exercise of our dominion. (355-356)
